OK, so technically the best home knife sharpener is probably a set of Shapton stones, plus a knife sharpening class and some diligence. But the best knife is the sharp knife—and that comes from having a knife sharpener you’ll actually use. For me right now, that’s the Tormek T-1, which is the best pull-through knife sharpener I’ve tested. It’s got a cleverly designed jig to keep your knife to the right angle against the diamond sharpening wheel, and a self-wetting (i.e., no lubrication needed) composite honing wheel.

That might sound daunting. And it’ll look daunting for about five minutes, then feel quite easy—especially on better knives that have a good edge already. The Tormek is no replacement for a skilled knife sharpener, whom you might still engage (or become) for your most valuable blades. But lord, for your everyday and better-than-everyday knives, this is a sexy beast, and upon BESS testing, this Tormek was able to attain sharpness better than new knives straight out of the box. Now, the T-1’s not perfect, especially at creating an even edge all the way to the tippy-tip and far back of the knife, but it’s the best of its type I’ve found, and it’s simple enough you’re likely to actually make use of it.

This said! One shouldn’t use the sharpener as a first resort. If the cook of your affections doesn’t have a good honing rod, that’s the best thing to use on a more consistent basis. Try this dandy ceramic honing rod from Zwilling ($75).